Red Army

A feature documentary about the Soviet Union and the most successful dynasty in sports history: the Red Army hockey team. Told from the perspective of its captain Slava Fetisov, the story portrays his transformation from national hero to political enemy. The film examines how sport mirrors social and cultural movements and parallels the rise and fall of the Red Army team with the Soviet Union.

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Good documentary about the Soviet national hockey team. Living in Seattle, hockey was never a local sport—don’t really know much about the game; but I do remember the 1980 Olympics when the U.S. beat Russia for the gold. This documentary features Slava Festisov who was the captain of the Soviet team. I found the insight into the Soviet way of life very interesting. Recruited as children, raised away from their families, hockey was their life. Their coach was appointed by the KGB and he trained them to WIN. At one point Slava says the coach couldn’t have a heart attack because the man had no heart. As communism started to dissipate in the USSR, many Russian hockey players were being recruited by the NHL. Slava really didn’t want to defect – his home is Russia, but he tires of the oppressive system and the dictatorial coach and eventually plays for a U.S. team that went on to win the Stanley Cup. Overall, interesting for the insight into hockey—the Russians always played aggressively as a team with lots of passing. They evolved as a team and succeeded as a team, the U.S. style was very foreign to them with the on-ice violence. Also an interesting look at the Soviet Union and the introduction of glasnost under Gorbachev. At one point Slava asks the interviewer, what is “cold war.”

If you want to understand what was lost with the break up of the Soviet Union watch this film. There is a moment during one of the interview segments with Viacheslav Fetisov where he is asked, "What was the cold war about? Wasn't it about national security?" And Fetisov replies, "Bullshit. It was about business." In the context of the documentary it is a kick in the eye to the viewer. This viewer at least.

Let me start by saying that I'm neither a hockey fan specifically, nor a sports fan generally, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Starting with the opening scene, the filmmaker interviews Slava Fetisov - the once hockey giant of the Soviet Union. He and four of his team members comprised a dream team whose intuitive coordination on the ice played like a symphony. The cost to them was total commitment with next to no time for family and no accumulation of wealth like professional athletes in the U.S. enjoy. This film addresses such themes as loyalty to one's country and playing for yourself or for the team. Slava is a compelling individual. Where he winds up, I didn't see coming.

The Fetisov interview is insightful- the actual documentary is a mediocre production- I wish there had been more of an interview with Tretiak, it seemed like he had more to offer. For hockey enthusiasts this is a must see.

This is an interesting documentary and I enjoyed learning about the role former Red Army players have in Russia to-day. The commentaries about how this film demonstrated negative aspects of Soviet Russia are not borne out in the film itself. Instead, what comes across is the pride of these players as members of the Red Army team.

A decent hockey movie with behind the STEEL curtain details . U really see the ignorance and lack of class of the Russian player as Fetisov rudely operates his cell phone and plays dumb when the interviewer attempts to interview him. The block head arrogance suits his political appointment by Putin. The Russian development system of the 60-70's really created 1 dimensional players that failed them in '72 and 1980 Lake Placid. It's quite a feat that Canada could beat a country that is 10 times it's population. The North American player's superior character continues to beat the robotic Russian system...worth watching!

The director of the documentary was annoying. That being said, when he wasn't being heard, this was an engaging documentary. If you think socialism sounds cool, just consider the USSR's forced communal living, forced inability to eat fish except on Tuesdays, not being able to see your dying father, etc, all in the name of what they called at the time socialism. Hockey in the USSR had no freedom to it. The players for 11 months of the year did nothing other than hockey. For this the players had a level of excellence the world has not seen since, but at what price?

a little disappointed in this one. THey should have called it the Fetisov story because it focused mostly on his story. I thought it was going to be more of the system and of hockey. Still an interesting watch but don't expect a ton of hockey.